Spironolactone

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Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present...

Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present in both males and females that lead to more acne, and spironolactone helps reduce androgens.

It is usually taken once or twice a day, around the same time(s), preferably with a meal.

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beautyfighter56

February 20, 2012

Pros:

Dramatically reduces oil
Dries existing acne
Promotes strong hair and nails (might just be me)
Has cleared 85% of my acne in the first month

Cons:

Frequent Urination
Must drink a lot of water ( good for skin)
Must watch your potassium intake

After going off of hormonal birth control, my acne went from light to moderately severe during my TOM. After exhaustive research and trying every product known to (wo)man, I determined that my acne was hormonal and would need to be treated internally. I asked my dermatologist for Spironolactone a month ago and have already seen significant results. I also spoke with my doctor because I was concerned about the side effects of using this drug long-term. She assured me that Spironolactone is an old drug that has been on the market for many years and has shown little adverse side effects for women. Unlike using Yaz or Yasmin, which are relatively new drugs prescribed for acne and BC and are now being linked to blood clots and strokes. My advice: If you suffer from hormonal acne, give this drug a shot. It is safe and effective, so what have you got to lose? Also, though I did see results in a month, this is not always typical and I have read many posts that say women had to wait 3-5 months to see results. That being said, be patient and give this drug the time to work it's magic. A Word of Caution: Women are often prescribed this drug in conjunction with birth control to regulate periods. This is fine, but I would caution against using Yasmin or Yaz with this drug as they already contain anti-androgen medication to help your skin and this can be a bit of an overload causing potassium issues and potential blood clots.

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Liam B.28

February 14, 2012

Pros:

*it works!!
*severely lessens cystic acne/milia/pimples
*easy to take
*reduces oiliness
*minimum/no side effects
*also helped get rid of my migraines??
*gave me my confidence back!

Cons:

*must be PATIENT- this is key!!! for me it took almost 4 months to see results
*thirsty a little more often
*pee more (it's a diuretic)
*weight loss (although this may not really be a con)
*get your pottasium levels checked just in case

I have had mild/moderate acne on my face, chest, and back since high school. I had always been able to pretty much keep it under control... and then I turned 21. WOW. New blemishes every day, painful, huge, take-months-to-disappear cysts on my forehead and jawline, as well as tiny little skin-colored bumps (milia) along my cheeks and T-zone. It was miserable-- I would not be seen without makeup on, if I forgot my concealor at home I would freak out, I was terrified of pools, looking at my reflection in the car window, sweating... I know there are people out there with much more to stress about but it literally made me hate my life. I tried everything, from proactiv/tazorac/ anti-biotics/birth control/glytone/$$acid peels/microderm... NOTHING worked. Finally I took the time to research other options out there, thinking I would have to resort to Accutane. Thankfully I discovered this, went to the doctor, and got prescribed 25 mg/day (I am 5'5 105 lbs) along with retin-A gel to use at night. Over the course of a couple months, I moved up to 100 mg/day (50 at morning 50 at night). I didn't really see any significant change until about week 8. I still had massive gross cysts, but they healed quicker.. I was discouraged that it wasn't really working yet, but decided to wait it out and continued to take the spiro religiously. Well, now I am in my 4th/mo of taking it, and the difference in my face is night and day, and only getting better!! I used to have about 15-20 blemishes on any given day; now I have 2-3 at MOST. My pores are smaller, my skintone is more even, NO blemishes on my back or chest. My face still gets oily from time to time, but much much less than before- nothing face blotters can't fix. I must give some of the credit to the retin-A, which has definitely helped with the scarring and redness, but I know 90% of the change happened on the INSIDE, where spiro starts to work. PLEASE give this a chance, and be PATIENT, it won't happen over-night!

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Pirate

February 12, 2012

Pros:

-small pill
-no drying out
-clears up my skin completely
-makes me happy!

Cons:

-still get a few breakouts when I'm on my period but they are MUCH smaller and MUCH fewer. (about two or three)
-they don't really last too long when you're taking two a day

I have been getting acne since 6th grade. Nothing has worked. Finally this year I went to the dermatologist and found out that my acne was strictly hormonal and that nothing was working because I was using topical medications. When I got this, after about a month, my face had no zits on it for the first time in my life. I had the confidence of a million supermodels (though i am most definitely not one) and I LOVE this pill. I do. Try it if you've tried everything! get to that dermatologist!

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Hamishpdx

February 12, 2012

Pros:

It works. Little to no side effects. Inexpensive. Easy to take.

Cons:

After 6 months of use, my testosterone levels are slightly low.

This eradicated my severe, painful cystic acne. I had the worst acne I had ever experienced. I went of the Pill and within two months my skin became oilier and went from flawless to acne prone and worsened to full blown crippling acne. I am no stranger to acne and had taken acutane for a case much less severe than the one discussed here. It worked brilliantly while on it, but the acne came back worse a few months after stopping it and I found clear skin again while still on the pill by using Cosmedix brand facial care and seeing a Cosmedix trained esthetician. As I mentioned before, my serious problem began after stopping the pill. The spironolactone was suggested as a last ditch effort after trying antibiotics, Retin-A and when my derm found out my insurance didn't cover Rx. Within a few weeks after taking it the oiliness was markedly less and the acne was finally healing. I haven't had a pimple at all since September with this medication. I don't have Rx coverage and I signed up for the Walgreen's Rx plan, which is a $30 anual fee, and my Spiro is $10 a month, very affordable. I use no topical medications as they aren't necessary anymore. I weigh 120 lbs and am 29 5' 7" and I take 50mg in the morning and again at night. Aside from the slight drop in testosterone, which is keeping the acne away, I have had no side effects whatsoever except clear skin. If you are female and having cysts and horrible jawline/cheek acne, I urge you to try this. This has worked incredibly well for me. I wish I had found it sooner. I could've avoided some scarring. Luckily, I have very little compared to how severe my case was. As I plan on starting a family in a few years, I will need to stop this medication at some point. I am currently stepping down to a half tablet at night to slowly step down my dose and see if I stay clear. I haven't gone back to hormonal BC and chose a copper IUD instead to avoid this problem again in the future if possible. Good luck!

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THOR

February 10, 2012

Pros:

Easy to take (one step).
Cleared my skin dramatically.

Cons:

It is a mild diuretic, so I am thirstier and have to pee more. My skin feels a bit drier as well.
Weird metallic aftertaste at first.
Takes about a month to work.
Need a blood test first to check your electrolytes.

I've had moderate to severe acne since i was 12 yrs old, and tried everything under the sun (antibiotics, differin, lots of benzoyl peroxide, retin-a, proactiv, various homeopathic and dietary changes). The only thing that ever seemed to make a difference was yasmin, which unfortunately made my hair fall out. It really took some convincing, but my dr gave me a scrip for 100 mg of spiro daily. This is a drastic difference. My skin is the clearest it's ever been. I get zits before my period, but they are small, no longer the terrible, painful cysts that made me self concious and depressed. Basically, if you suspect your acne is hormonal, give this a try. I'm not saying it will work great for everyone, but you won't know until you try.

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Mike Murphy9

February 9, 2012

Pros:

Reduced oil on my skin. Cleared my skin up dramatically when taken with a low dose birth control pill. Took about 3 months for my skin to completely clear up.

Cons:

There honestly are no cons.

I am taking 100mg once a day at night. I also take lo loestrin. The combination of these two medications has cleared up my acne almost completely. I get a pimple here and there, but I truly do not have problems with large breakouts anymore. I have had acne since I can remember--started at around 12. This is the only thing that has worked for me in my entire life. I have been through retinol creams, antibiotics, birth control pills, accutane, laser treatments, you name it--I've tried it. My parents are both OBGYN's they have prescribed this regiment to their patients and it truly works!! Ask your doctor, you will be thrilled after a few months!

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july9

February 7, 2012

Pros:

clears skin

Cons:

need to urinate more frequently

I am 30 years old and have dealt with acne since my preteen years It seems that I've used every prescription and drugstore remedy out there. (Retin A, accutane, oral and topical antibiotics, proactiv etc.) Since completeing a few ( yes 3) rounds of Accutane in my early twenties, my acne did lessen greatly, but it always came back. I was still consistently dealing with light to moderate (got worse when I became pregnant) acne. Because of pregnancies and breastfeeding I had to use only very gentle safe things to treat my acne for the last few years. I'm now safe point (safe-in that I'm not planning to get pregnant for awhile and I'm done nursing) in my life so I made a trip to the dermatologist to revamp my regime. I started taking Spironolactone 50 mg twice a day, Differin and Aczone. I am also on a low dose birthcontrol pill. I use CeraVe foaming face wash and olay sensitive skin complete face lotion. (I mix the lotion with Neutrogena healthy skin foundation). This has completely cleared up my skin! I can't say for certain which drug really worked the magic, or if it's in the power of 3, but I am finally zit free! (I saw great improvements within the first couple of months.) It's getting to be close to a year of this routine.

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corinna

January 27, 2012

Pros:

I havent been on this site in awhile due to the fact that spironolactone has cleared my face up dramatically. I went from sever cystic acne and overly oily skin to completely clear and dry skin. I am taking this medicine combined with Ortho Tricyclen-lo. I hardly ever right reviews, but this medicine was my miracle. Ive been on Accutane, which didnt help me at all, and i would hide in the house whenever i could because of my skin. It was horrible. I have my life back thanks to this.

Cons:

Sensitivity to sun,but nothing better than having clear skin, so happy!!!

Ladies who have tried everything under the sun.Please give this medication a go.

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Jasmine

January 20, 2012

Pros:

Works!!

Spiro works great!! Started it at the beggining of Dec -- Now January 20th combined with Doryx in the AM, my skin in COMPLETELY clear!! I love this stuff!!!!!!

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purereviewer4

January 18, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne so well. Even huge painful cysts.

Cons:

You do have to wait a while to see results. I am 100mg daily, plus I'm on diabex for PCOS. I also use Proactiv as a topial cleanser, which is so great. I waited 4 months before I stopped breaking out in the painful cysts on my face. I still get tiny zits around my period. I have notived I get a LOT of coldsores now. Like instead of pimples I get coldsore before every period. I urinate more, & my periods come more frequent. I get quite emotional too.

The bottom line is BE PATIENT. You take it everyday & see no results for months & then bam you just stop breaking out. Like I said I had to wait 4 months, but it was worth it. I've been on Doxycycline, Ruaccutane, topical gels, etc. Aldactone works great. I just wish I wasn't now getting coldsores every month. I've heard it can be caused from hormone shifts. I did get my periods like clock work EVERY 28 days, now I get them every 22-24 days, but they're a bit lighter. Haven't noticed much difference with hair, yet another reason why I take it. It does increase fertililty, so be careful, because if you get pregnant & it's a boy, he can have hormone problems.

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